Goodyear Racing Notes – ELMS 4 Hours of Imola

Goodyear returns to Imola this weekend for round three of the European Le Mans Series season, where 36 cars across the LMGT3, LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am categories will take on the flowing Italian circuit on Goodyear Racing Eagle tires.

The race marks the first outing for many European Le Mans Series teams since last month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Goodyear supplied 44 cars on the grid in its largest-ever endurance racing operation.

Every team in the LMGT3, LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am categories will run their respective Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium tires this weekend, at a track which offers a contrasting challenge to many of the more demanding circuits on the calendar. Its smooth surface and flowing layout places lower stress on tires, reducing overall tire degradation and emphasising strategy over the four hour race.

Goodyear therefore expects teams to explore a variety of strategies this weekend, weighing the time saved in the pit lane by extending stints against the potential performance gains of equipping new Goodyear Racing Eagle tires more frequently.

“Imola is one of the tracks where tire strategy can have a significant influence on the outcome of the race,” explained Stephen Bickley, Goodyear Endurance Program Manager. “Earlier this year in the FIA World Endurance Championship round, differing tire strategies played a decisive role in shaping the race. Some teams minimised time in the pit lane through multi-stinting tires, while others opted to fit fresher tires more frequently.

“The allocations in the European Le Mans Series mean teams do not have to multi-stint tires, but the sheer versatility of the Eagle Mediums means they may choose to. We know they can: at Le Mans, many LMGT3 teams completed four stints on a single set of tires, while LMP2 competitors achieved five stints.”

In addition to the slick tires used in dry conditions, teams will also have access to a Goodyear Racing Eagle Wet tire. These wet-weather tires feature a tread pattern designed to disperse surface water and provide grip in wet conditions.

Goodyear Racing Eagle tires are also in action this weekend across the Atlantic in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at Chicagoland Speedway.

Fast Facts
European Le Mans Series
Race: 4 Hours of Imola
Track: Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari (4.91 km: 12 left turns, 9 right turns)
Location: Imola, Italy
Date/Time: Sunday July 5, 13:00 CEST
TV/Radio: ELMS website, ELMS YouTube channel, FIAWEC+

LMP2 & LMP2 Pro/Am
Tire: Goodyear Racing Eagle
Tire Specification: Eagle Medium
Previous usage: Used at all ELMS races since Le Castellet 2025
Tire Measurements: (width mm / diameter mm / rim size in): 300/680/R18 front, 310/710/R18 rear
Total Dry Weather Tires: 26 (4 carryover free practice / 8 new free practice / 14 qualifying and race)
Total Wet Weather Tires: No limit

LMGT3
Tire: Goodyear Racing Eagle
Tire Specification: Eagle Medium
Previous usage: Le Castellet (2026); all ELMS races in 2024 and 2025
Tire Measurements: (width mm / diameter mm / rim size in): 300/680/R18 front, 310/710/R18 rear
Total Dry Weather Tires: No limit (4 carryover free practice / no limit otherwise)
Total Wet Weather Tires: No limit